
The force that through the green fuse ...

by Joe Schofield
Title
The force that through the green fuse ...
Artist
Joe Schofield
Medium
Photograph
Description
Dylan Thomas.
Appearing in his collection "18 poems" published in 1934,
"The Force That through the Green Fuse Drives the Flower," is one of the most popular and least obscure of the poems in the collection, illustrates both the language and the complex, powerful, but often confusing imagery. While it is easy to get caught up in the rhythm and drama of the language, it is far more difficult to unravel meaning. On its most basic level, however, the poem describes the cycle of life and death, noting that creation and destruction are part of the same process, both for man and for nature. Each stanza presents the flow of time moving to its inexorable conclusion.
The force that through the green fuse drives the flower
Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees
Is my destroyer.
And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose
My youth is bent by the same wintry fever.
The force that drives the water through the rocks
Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams
Turns mine to wax.
And I am dumb to mouth unto my veins
How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks.
The hand that whirls the water in the pool
Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind
Hauls my shroud sail.
And I am dumb to tell the hanging man
How of my clay is made the hangman's lime.
The lips of time leech to the fountain head;
Love drips and gathers, but the fallen blood
Shall calm her sores.
And I am dumb to tell a weather's wind
How time has ticked a heaven round the stars.
And I am dumb to tell the lover's tomb
How at my sheet goes the same crooked worm.
Volumes of in-depth analysis to be found ...
Uploaded
May 8th, 2012
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Comments (108)

Luther Fine Art
Congratulations! I'm happy to announce that your excellent photographic art has been proudly featured on the home page of the Camera Art Group! You are invited to archive your feature in Group Feature Archive: July 1, 2024 - September 30, 2024 discussion.

Jim Cook
So much to admire in this photograph Joe! Congratulations on being selected for "Artist of the Week" L,F,Tw

Gary F Richards
Spectacular composition, lighting, shading, colors and artwork! F/L Congratulations on your beautiful moving Artist of the Week Feature!

Lingfai Leung
Beautiful portrait. Congratulations on your Artist of the Week Feature in 1000 Views Group. L/f